The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), in reaction to the austerity measures in force in a number of European countries, is sponsoring a major European mobilisation on 29 September, with support from all its member organisations. Around 100 000 people are expected to take to the streets in Brussels and protest actions will also be held in different European countries.

A major day of action organised by the European trade union movement will be held on 29 September. Trade union delegations from across Europe will march in the streets of Brussels to protest against austerity measures. Employees cannot be the only ones to pay for the irresponsible speculation of certain financial institutions. In parallel with the Euro-demonstration in Brussels, a general strike will be held in Spain and protest movements are planned in Portugal, Italy, Latvia and Poland. The effort of the trade union organisations is focused on the Euro-demonstration in Brussels.

ETUC General Secretary John Monks commented : “On 29 September, we will demonstrate to voice our concern over the economic and social context, which will be compounded by austerity measures. We are particularly alarmed over unemployment and rising inequalities. To cope with increasing precariousness, priority must be given to quality jobs.”

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) speaks with a single voice on behalf of the common interests of workers, at European level. Founded in 1973, it now represents 82 trade union organisations in 36 European countries, plus 12 industry-based federations.

Sarah Millar, our Secretary, has left Brussels to take up a post in the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change: their gain and our loss! We are delighted for Sarah and wish her every success as well as thanking her for her dedication to Brussels Labour.

Her replacement will be elected at the AGM and, until then, Emma Eatwell will be the acting secretary. Any mail can be sent to her on secretary@brusselslabour.org

We were very pleased to welcome UK Trade Commissioner Baronness Cathy Ashton to speak at our meeting on November 10.

The annual John Fitzmaurice Leture was given on 14 October at the Centre by ETUC President John Monks. A full report will appear in Germinal, but click here for the text of his speech.

Brussels Labour again hosted a fringe meeting with EPLP at Labour Party conference. Chaired by Brussels Labour honorary President Lord Kinnock, on the subject of “Trade and Aid – European responses to global poverty”, it should be a fascinating debate. Speakers were European Commissioner for Trade, Cathy Ashton, Europe Minister Glennys Kinnock and Michael Cashman MEP – or three peers and a queer, in Michael’s memorable description of the panel!

September 9. We had a speaker from the Irish Labour Party on the forthcomming Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

June 2 – we welcomed Labour’s new MEP, Derek Vaughan, as speaker. He gave his thoughts on the election campaign, and his hopes for his first term.

The PES is probably of particular interest to members of Brussels Labour.

Individual members of Europe’s Socialist, Social Democratic and Labour Parties – and thus of Brussels Labour – are all members of the PES through their national party membership. They can now become directly involved in the PES by becoming PES activist. This important decision was taken at the PES Council in Vienna in June 2005 with full support of the member parties.

Being PES activist offers a new level of involvement for members, complementary to that on local, regional or national level.

Activists can ask questions directly to politicians, take part in discussions with other European socialists and social democrats on a variety of topics, give input on PES policy discussions, establish political links with local individuals and branches in other PES member parties, receive information on what other European socialists and social democrats are up.

In addition, there are opportunities to attend events such as the PES Congress and Summer University.

Go to www.pes.org for more details on how to become a PES activist – and also for information on PES events and activities.